Escaping to Drier Climes

I’ve been gone for a while. Couldn’t take the dreary, cold, and wet any longer. The webs have finally disappeared from between my fingers and toes, and my skin actually needs moisturizer. I’ve been breaking a sweat from something other than a workout in an artificially-lit weight room. You know, outside, in the sun. I actually took two showers today! Imagine…

We’ve done a little bit of everything in the weeks we’ve been down here – walking, hiking, golfing, spring training, cycling, shopping, dining, BBQing – and yes, drinking! Only there’s an important distinction here – we’re downing beers in the sun over a baseball game and sipping cocktails during sunset overlooking a desert golf course. Jealous? I would be – if I were somewhere dreary.

We started in Scottsdale for a week of golf and spring training games. Our first day of golf wasn’t so great – too much Pacific Northwest – as in rain and temps in the 50s. Yes! What the hell?! But it got better. Next were a few days in Sedona where it was unseasonably cool, but still beautiful and better than Western Washington drizzle. When the boys show up for their week of spring training, we take them to Butter’s Cafe in Scottsdale for breakfast. Oh man, the pancakes are otherworldly, and everything else is just top-notch breakfast fare. You can’t do better than Butter’s for breakfast. Just be prepared to go early, or wait up to an hour to get in. But it’s worth it. And I don’t say that about very many places. An afternoon visit to North Scottsdale’s upscale Kierland Commons and lunch at Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant make for a fun, relaxing day.

For us it’s off to Sedona while the boys begin their sojourn through spring training ballparks. Sauntering through Sedona’s premier, eclectic shopping center, Tlaquepaque, we window shop, stop for a delicious lunch at El Rincon, and wander across the Oak Creek River. Town is jammed full of tourists, but we mostly manage to avoid the traffic. We visit two of Lisa Dahl’s five local restaurants, the great Pisa Lisa pizza joint that looks to be built on the remains of a Pizza Hut, and the fantastic, luxury Butterfly Burger Lounge across the river in Oak Creek. Janice has a Nothing Burger, which is a basic cheeseburger. It’s wonderful, and certainly not basic in the taste department. That tells you something about what the other burgers are like. I partake in a Waco Kid and Ryan has the signature Butterfly Burger. All of them start with a 1/2 pound of blended prime wagyu and American beef. It’s literally the best burger I have ever had. Incredible! And the bar is top notch, too. If you’re in Sedona and you’re a burger aficionado, you can’t miss this experience.

We make the 5-hour trek back to Palm Desert from Sedona while the boys finish their spring training getaway. Spring is here in full force. Desert flowers are everywhere, the temperatures are a bit sporadic, but anything with sun and temps from 70 to 95 works for me. This is the way vacations and retirements should be! A morning bike ride, a round of golf or a simple workout, followed by a bit of afternoon poolside reading and a light summer salad for dinner. Tomorrow, maybe it’ll be lunch while basking on a rooftop restaurant on El Paseo while imbibing in one of their inimitable Mojitos. Or, maybe a trip to La Quinta for a taste of that wonderful nitrogen-frozen ice cream from Nitroinfusions. A little planning each day followed by spontaneous choices – what a great combination.

Whatever you choose down here, it’s just great to get away. Everybody needs some sun, and these spots are pretty good for finding it and things to do in it. Cheers!